Wireless corn-planter.



L. E. EASIER.- WIREL ESS CORN PLANTER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7 I913.

PatentedSept. 14, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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IZVVENTOR.

ATTORNEKS L. E. EASTER.

WIRELESS CORN PLANTER. APPLlCATION FILED JAN. 1. 191a.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JNVEAITOR.

4 rrokmzm v WITNESSES:

L. E. EASTER.

WIRELESS CORN PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7. l9l3.

Patentedsept. 14,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- I [NVE N TOR.

A TORNEYS L. E. EASTER. WIRELESS CORN PLANTER.

} APPLICATION EILED JAN. 7. I913. l 1,1,4; PatentedSept; 14, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ATTORNEY5,

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LEE E. EASTER, OF LEON, IOWA.

WIRELESS CORN-PLATTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dept. id, 1915.

Application filed i'anuary 7, 1913. Serial No. 740,668.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEE E. EASTER, a c1t1- zen of the United .States, residing at Leon, in the county of Decatur and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Wireless Corn-Planter, of' which the followlng 1s a specification.

The object of my invention 1s to provide a wireless corn planter having parts constructed and arranged for dropping corn at regular intervals, and having parts for marking the next rows to be planted so that the corn may be planted in regularrows, so that it may be plowed in both directlons.

A further object is to provide such a planter in which the marking devices are so connected with the driving wheels that the marker may be steadily operated in such a manner as to be free from irregularities in its movement which would ordinarily result from the fact that the drive wheels travel at times at slightly different rates of speed and also travel a different number of revolutions in covering a certain distance, due to the fact that the ground is uneven.

A further object is to provide a corn planter of the class mentioned provided with a marker operated from the drive wheels and provided with mechanism for disconnecting the drive wheels and the markers, and also with mechanism for manually moving the markers independently of the movement of the drive wheels.

A further object is to provide such a corn planter in which the tongue and the planter shoes are so mounted on the main frame of the machine as to permit their pivotal movement with relation to said frame.

A further object is to provide such a machine having marker arms and marker blades so mounted thereon as to permit radial movement of blades with relation to the marker arms.

the corn planter embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 shows a detail view of part of the mechanism for connecting the shaft which carries the marker arms with the drive wheels and for disconnecting said shaft and the drive wheels taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a'detail sectional view' of the part of the mechanism for connecting the marker carrying shaft with the drive wheels. Fig. 5 shows a transverse vertical sectional view through the parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4; taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows a detail View of part of the means by which the corn dropper mechanism is actuated from the shaft which carries the marker arms, taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 shows a detail sectional View of the marker arms and the marker blade. Fig. 8 shows a detail view of the mechanism for advancing tlte marker shaft with relation to the drive wheels, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 shows a detail view of the mechanism by which the tongue and planter shoes are locked against pivotal movement with relation to the main frame of the machine, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 shows a detail view of the means for raising or lowering the machine, taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 1. Fig. 11 shows a detail, sectional View of the differential.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the wheels on which 'my im-- proved planter is mounted. The wheels 10 are rotatably mounted on and connected by the transverse shaft 11. Mounted on the transverse Shaft 11 is seat 12. Mounted on the shaft 11 is a frame which is so arranged as to permit its tilting, which frame includes spaced longitudinal members pivoted at 23 and 24 to the upward extensions 22. Mounted on the outer ends of the axle or shaft 11 are arms 24 which extend forwardly into the machine and are pivoted to the outer upwardly extending members 22 at 25 at points in the vertical, transverse plane of e pivotal points 23 and 2t. 1t

will therefore be seen that the second frame is capable of .pivotal or tilting movement verse shaft 29. On the shaft 29 is adjustably mounted a collar 30 by means of set screw 31. Extending rearwardly and upwardly from the collar 30 is a finger 32. For holding the finger 32 at the upper limit of its movement I have secured to a lug 33 on the collar 30 and preferably to the frame 1 member 18 a contractible coil spring 34 shown in Fig; 6. Adjustably mounted on the shaft 27 by means of a set screw 35 is a collar 36 fixed on which is disk 37 having outwardly extending fingers 38 also shown in Fig. 6. The mechanism just described is designed for the purpose of intermittently moving the shaft 29, for operating the dropper mechanism in unison with the movement of the shaft 27 and the markers which will hereinafter be described.

On each outer end of the shaft 27 are pairs of marker arms 39 extending at right angles from shaft 27 said pairs being arranged at equal distances from each other as shown in Fig. 2. Telescopically mounted on the outer ends of each marker arm is an arm 40, the movement of which with relation to the marker arm 39 is limited by means of a pin 41 which travels in a longitudinal slot 42 in the arm 39. For holding the arms 40 at the outward limit of theirmovement with relation to the arm 39, I have provided expansible coil springs 43. Secured to the outer ends of the arms 40 are marker blades 44. I preferably connect the adjacent pairs of arms 39 by means of brace-rods 45. Pivotally mounted on the rearward frame mem- -member 15 is a lever 49 provided with the usual pawl 50 designed to coact with notches in the sector 51. Pivoted to the lever 49 is a forwardly extending link 52. Centrally pivoted, preferably on a bracket 53 mounted on a transverse member 16 is a bell crank lever 54, one arm of which is pivoted to the forward end of the link 52. The other arm of the bell crank lever 54 is pivoted to one end of a link 55, the other end of which is pivoted to the rearwardly extending arm 48.

I It will therefore be seen that by means of the mechanism last described the tongue can be ralsed or lowered and the second frame can be tilted with relation to the first frame. Mounted on the frame member 17 is an upwardly extending guide device 56 having substantially the form of an inverted U. The tongue 47 slides between the upper por tion of the guide device 56 and the frame member 17 and the pivotal movement of the tongue 47 is limited by the sides of the guide device 56.

For locking the tongue against pivotal movement I have provided the following means: Mounted preferably on the frame member 15 is a lever 57 pivoted to which is a forwardly extending link 58. Rotatably mounted on suitable bearings on the upper portion of the guide 56 is a rod 59 having an upward extension 60 pivoted to the forward end of the link 58, having also a forward extension 61 having on its forward end a downward extension 62 which in one position of the rotation of the rod 59 is received in a slot 63 in the upper surface of the tongue 47, thereby locking the tongue against pivotal movement with relation to the planter. The planter shoes 64'are also pivotally mounted with relation to the frame of the machine. At the rear ends the planter shoes are pivotally and telescopically connected with the dropper chutes 65 as shownin Fig. 2. At the forward upper ends the planter shoes 64 are pivoted to the transverse bar 65 which is pivoted at its center to the tongue 47. It will therefore be seen that when the forward end of the tongue is swung laterally the forward ends of the planter shoes will swing laterally in unison with the tongue as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The advantages of this construction in connection with a planter to which my device belongs will be hereinafter more fully explained.

For operating the shaft 27 from the shaft 11 and thereby operating the marker arms and the grain dropper mechanism. I have provided the following means: On the shaft 11 is a differential 66 one member 101 of which is operatively connected with the shaft 11. Another member 102 is secured to the sleeve 67. The members 102 and 101 are provided near their outer edges with adjacent beveled gear teeth 103. Loosely mounted on the shaft 11, between the members 101 and 102 is a differentiating member, comprising a sleeve 104 and short shafts 105, on which are mounted beveled gears 106 in mesh with both members 101 and 102. Mounted on the outer ends of the shafts 105 is an annular plate 107, on which are formed sprocket teeth 108. Mounted on one end of the shaft 11 is a sleeve 67 secured to one of the wheels 10 and operatively connected with the other side of the differential 66. Suitably mounted on the second frame in line with the pivotal points 24 and 25 is a shaft 20 on which are sprocket gears 21 and 23.

0n the shaft 27 is a sleeve 68 on which is a sprocket 69. The differentiating member of the differential is provided with sprocket teeth 108 and a sprocket chain 70 travels on said gear and on the sprocket gear 28. On the shaft 27 is a sleeve 68 on which is a sprocket 69. A sprocket chain 22 travels on the sprockets 69 and 21. This construction is necessary on account of the fact that the shaft 27 tilts with the second. frame. Formed on the sleeve 68 is an annular disk 71 having at its outer circumference a circumferential annular flange 72. Fixed on the shaft 27 adjacent to the disk 71 is a collar 73. Pivoted to the collar 73 are outwardly extending links 74. Pivoted atthe outer ends of said links are friction shoes 75 designed in certain positions of their movement to engage the inner surface of the flange 72. For holding the shoes 75 at the outer limit of their movement in frictional engagements with the flange 72, I have provided expansible coil springs 76. Rotatably but non-slidably mounted on the shaft 27 One end of the lever 83 is pivoted to a link let 84 which is operated by means of a foot lever 85. For holding foot lever 85 in such position that the band brake is inoperative, I have provided an expansible coil spring 86 secured to said lever and to the frame of the machine. When the machine is driven forward the flange 72 travels in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4 and through the shoes 75, the link 74, and the collar 73 rotates the shaft 27. If it is desired to hold the shaft 27 against rotation while the machine advances a short distance the foot lever 85 is moved to lock the hand brake 82. Ordinarily the flange 79 travels with the flange 72 on account of the pins 81. When however the flange 79 is gripped by the hand brake the tendency is to stop the disk 78 thereby drawing the pins 81 inwardly and moving the shoes 75 inwardly from frictional engagement with the flange 72.

It will be understood that with a' frictional clutch device of the class just described, the variations of the pressure upon the foot lever 85 will cause a variation in the effect upon the hand brake 82. For instance, if a very slight tensionis imposed upon the band brake, the hand brake will not be locked but will exercise suflicient frictional engagement on the flange 79 to tend to retard the disk 78. The pins 81 will move inwardly very slightly and the frictilt tional engagement of the shoes 75 with the flange 72 will be reduced so that the flange will be stopped and the shaft 27 Will thereby be entirely disconnected from the sprocket 69.

In the practical operation of my improved wireless corn planter, assuming the parts to be in their normal position the machine is drawn forward by a team of horses or other suitable motive power applied to the tongue 47. If the forward end of the tongue 49 is supported ata certain height the rearward end thereof may be raised or lowered as desired by means of the lever 49 and the mechanism connected therewith. By same means the second frame may be tilted as desired with relation to the first frame. If

the operator so wishes, lever 57 may be moved to proper position for causing the extenslon 62 to' enter the slot 63, thereby locking the tongue 47 against pivotal movement. The shaft 27 is rotated from the shaft 11 through the mechanism hereinbefore described in detail. The grain dropping ,mechanism is operated from the shaft 29 which in turn is actuated from the shaft 27 by means of the mechanism hereinb'efore described. The parts are so arranged that the grain is dropped just as the marker blade 44 has struck the ground so that the hills will be planted in line with marks made by the blades 44. The distance between the successive blades 44 on the circumeven across the field, the marker arms may be advanced with relation to the wheels 10 by means of the mechanism that I will now describe. Mounted on the shaft 27 is a toothed gear wheel 89 which is rotatably but nonslidably mounted on said shaft. Fixed on s the shaft 27 adjacent to the gear wheel 89 is a ratchet wheel 90 formed on the collar 91 which is adjustably held in position on the shaft by means of the set screw 92. Pivoted to the gear wheel 89 above the ratchet wheel 90 is a swinging pawl 93. I provide a rack bar 94 preferably above the gear 89 and provided with teeth in mesh with the teeth of the gear wheel 89 which rack bar is mounted in asuitable guide 95. Secured to the .rack bar is a rearwardly extending rod 96 which is pivoted at its rearward end to a foot lever 97. The foot lever 97 is pivotally mounted in a bracket 98 which may be mounted on the cross member 15 of the frame. For yieldingly holding the foot i hand brake.

lever 97 at the rearward position of its movement, Ihave secured to said lever and to the frame of the machine a contractible coil spring 99. When it is desired to advance the marking devices more rapidly than they would be advanced by the other mechanism hereinbefore described, lever 97 may be moved forward. Rack bar 94 will then rotate the gear 89, which through the pawl 93 and the ratchet 90 willrotate the shaft 27 more rapidly than would otherwise be the case. Should the operator desire to retard the movement of the marking devices in order to cause the marker blades 44 to strike the ground at the proper place the lever 85 may be pressed forwardly, thereby locking the hand brake 82. Band brake 82 retards the movement of the flange 79 and the disk 78 and as result the pins 81 are drawn inwardly toward the shaft 27 and the shoes 7 5 are drawn out of engagement with the flange 72, more or less completely depending upon the tension imposed upon the The rotation of the shaft 27 will then be retarded with relation to the rotation of the sprocket 69 or entirely stopped as the case may be.

In wireless grain planters of the class to which my invention belongs, where the marker devices are operated from the planter wheels, difliculty is experienced in keeping the rows even on account of the fact that unevenness in the ground causes the wheels to run at times at unequal speeds. To overcome this difficulty I have employed the differential gear 66 whereby unevenness in the travel of the wheels is equalized. In many planters of the general type to which my machine belongs the markers are .operated by friction with the ground and if the ground is uneven the markers do not necessarily travel at the same rate of speed as the planter wheels and the rows of hills of grain are constantly uneven. This difliculty is largely avoided by driving the shaft which carries the marker arms and actuates the grain dropping mechanism from the planter wheels. In a planter of this class in which the marker devices are operated from the planter wheels it is necessary to provide some means whereby the markers may be advanced.- Should they for any reason he touching the ground behind the proper point for this purpose I have provided the pawl and ratchet devices hereinbefore described. It may be noted in this connection that such device is made practical by the fact when the shaft 27 is rotated by means of the pawl and ratchet, devices connected with the lever 97, the shoes 75 and the member connected therewith are so arranged as to permit said shaft to rotate. Another difliculty ordinarily experienced with devices of this general class results from the fact that the horses do not travel the planter shoes.

evenly and. consequently jerk the forward end of the tongue from side to side. Where the tongue is fixed solidly to the frame of the planter this weaving of the horses re sults in jerking the marker arms laterally and tends to throw the marks to some extent out of line. The same unevenness in the travel of the horses jerks the planter shoes from side to side and causes the hills to be planted in an uneven line. These difficulties I have avoided by pivotally mounting the tongue and the planter shoes so that their respective forward ends may be swung laterally with the minimum lateral movement of the marker arms and of the rear ends of I consider this feature of my invention of considerable importance. The shaft 27 is mounted on the second frame so that it may tilt with the planter shoes 64. If the shaft were mounted on the first frame the tilting of the frames with relation to each other might cause a slight variation in the distance between the hills without correspondingly affecting the marker arms and consequently varying the distance between the marks.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a corn planter, a frame mounted on wheels, a second frame pivotally mounted on said first frame, planter shoes mounted on said second frame, a shaft mounted on said second frame in the vertical and horizontal planes of the pivotal points of said frames, means whereby rotary movement may be transmitted from said wheels to said shaft, a second shaft mounted on said second frame, marking devices thereon, means for transmitting motion from said first shaft to said second shaft.

2. In a device of the class described, a

corn planter frame,van axle thereon, a sleeve on said axle, drive wheels mounted on said axle and sleeve respectively, a second frame pivotally mounted with relation to said first frame. a marker shaft mounted on said second frame, means for transmitting rotary motion from said wheels to said marker shaft, said means comprising a differential gear having members secured to said axle and said sleeve respectively and having a differentiating member provided with sprocket teeth, a short shaft mounted on said second frame, in the vertical and horizontal transverse planes of the pivotal points of said frames, sprocket wheels on said short shaft fixed with relation to each other, a sprocket chain operatively mounted on the sprocket-teeth on said differentiating member and on one of the sprocket wheels on said short shaft, a sprocket wheel mounted on said marker shaft and a sprocket chain mounted on said last named sprocket wheel and on the other of the sprocket wheels on the short shaft- 3. In a device of the class described, a

meaaae frame, an axle rotatahly mounted thereon., a sleeve rotatably mounted on said axle, drive wheels fixed on said axle and said sleeve respectively, a second frame pivotally mounted on said first frame, a marker shaft rotatably mounted on the second frame, and means for transmitting rotary motion from said Wheels to said marker shaft, said means comprising a differential 10 having members fixed respectively to the axle and the sleeve and having a difi'erentiating member, a short shaft mounted on 

